GREEN MAPPING
A group of enthusiasts including Michael Linton (founder of LETS in Canada) and representatives of The Hour Bank in Peckham, the Credit Union in Southwark, the LETS group in Merton, a lecturer in Geography from University College London, United Diversity Technical Consultancy, and Letslink London, plus members of the public interested in learning both about LETS and green maps, met at an Ecological Centre called "Living Space" near Waterloo station in London on Saturday 5th June 2004 to learn about Green Maps under the guidance ofLondon 21's green map specialist, Lynda Thoroughgood.

From the shared knowledge of those present, the positions of LETS, Timebanks and Credit Unions were rapidly marked on a large plasticised wall-map of London using coloured sticky circles, showing up the "hotspots" and neglected areas at a glance. The group also received a report from a workshop earlier on in which children had painted their personal maps.

The meeting was organised by Vinciane Rycroft, coordinator of London 21, and marked the launch of the 2004 London Sustainability Weeks - see further details below.

Both adult and child exercises demonstrated the strength of the green map project, not only for the purpose of actually producing useful informative maps, but as a tool for community building - differences and difficulties are dissolved by the common task of making the map. Those present exchanged contacts and resolved to take the project further, initially on the Letslink UK website, and potentially participating in detailed borough-wide projects.
Report by Mary Fee of Letslink UK/ London

London Green Map Launch - Looking at the Green Side of London's Neighbourhoods

Saturday 5th June 2004
Waterloo Millennium Green, London SE1

Cafe: The community internet cafe "Living Space" will be open as usual and serves a range of fair trade products.

2-5pm Activities and Displays • Interactive displays of the London Green Map • Children and Youth Mapping and Art Activities • Put the first leaf on London Sustainability Weeks'
"I want a Green and Healthy London" Pledge Hedge • Organic gardening, wildlife & craft activities, bouncy castle, face painting and food on the Green as part of "The Green Celebration"

3.30 -5.00pm: Workshop on mapping London's alternative economy: The workshop is organised by London 21 in conjunction with LETS Link London and will be an opportunity to put on the map and network LETS schemes, Time Banks and Credit Unions across Greater London.

5-6pm Speakers, Green Drinks and Viewing of www.londongreenmap.org

Guest Speakers will include: From Johannesburg to Local Action for Sustainability' - Felix Dodds, Director, Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future, UNED-UK; 'Community Action for Sustainability and Green Mapping' - Mike Keogh, Lewisham Environment Trust, on Lewisham's Big Green Map

More about the London Green Map project:
The London Green Map presents a different picture of London, highlighting the diversity and creativity of our communities, and the ways they have found to make a green and healthy future a reality today. The London Green Map project will also engage Londoners in a mapping process that is creative, inclusive and educational. Groups across Greater London will also be starting their green map on Saturday 5 June. The London Green Map is also an interactive website that visitors can search by postcode or add their project to online. Green Maps have already been produced in Hackney, Haringey and Lewisham. If you are interested in finding out about local green mapping, and developing a map in your borough, please contact vinciane@london21.org.- vinciane@london21.org.

Getting there: Living Space, a social enterprise and eco-building by the Waterloo Millennium Green community garden, is at 1 Coral Street, at the junction of Baylis Road and Waterloo Road, just South of Waterloo station. Tube/rail: Waterloo. Buses: 1,4, 26, 59, 68, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243

The London Green Map is a project of London 21 Sustainability Network. London 21 supports, promotes and networks community-based action for sustainability in Greater London (www.london21.org).

Saturday 5th June is the start of London Sustainability Weeks 5-19th June 2004. The weeks celebrate the action of local people making their communities greener, healthier places to live. See www.londonsustainabilityweeks.org for a listing of the 200+ events.